As many of you will know next year Sheffield is due to host it’s 6th Pride event next summer. Talking to some of you there is some interest in creating an alternative / fringe event, that is not only unafraid to be political but is openly and proudly so with an emphasis on campaigning for queer rights, putting the protest back into pride and genuinely celebrating and demonstrating the uncensored diversity of our community.

This first meeting is just an informal gathering to find out who may be interested i
n getting involved, talk about some ideas and look at how we might go about doing this.

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I’ve noted some brief ideas below. Please note this is not definitive or exclusive, just some very broad initial ideas to start the ball rolling.

ALTERNATIVE PRIDE FRINGE EVENT: A FREE RADICAL DIY AUTONOMOUS QUEER GATHERING

AIMS: HIGHLIGHT QUEER CAMPAIGNS / STRUGGLES / PROTESTS BOTH CURRENT AND HISTORIC

RAISE FUNDS / AWARENESS / SUPPORT FOR ABOVE CAUSE(S)

CREATE FREE, INCLUSIVE AND NON CENSORED DIY NONCORPORATE COMMUNITY EVENT(S) / NETWORK ALTERNATIVE TO MAINSTREAM GAY ‘SCENE’ FOR PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS, SEXUALTIES AND IDENTITIES

SPECIFIC INCLUSIVITY OF MINORITY / NON MAINSTREAM GROUPS / INDIVIDUALS OFTEN EXCLUDED BY MAIN PRIDE EVENTS / GROUPS: EG. GENDERQUEER / NON GENDER BINARY, SEX WORKERS, POLYAMOUROUS, PANSEXUAL, ASEXUAL, BDSM ETC

HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY

POSSIBLE EVENTS / ACTIVITIES: FILM SCREENINGS / WORKSHOPS / TALKS / GIG / DIRECT ACTION / ZINE/BOOK FAIR / ART EXHIBITION

Some other events / groups which may be worth taking a look at for ideas:

Queeruption / Reclaim the Scene / Pride is a Protest / Queer Mutiny / Gay Shame / Radical Faeries